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REPLY: As for the question of what to do when a brawl breaks out (just "take numbers" or actively get involved in breaking it up), Alan Goldberger, legal consultant to NASO and a frequent contributor to REFEREE magazine in the area of sports and the law, responded to my e-mail asking his opinion regarding these two strategies. He says,
"As to your question, conventional wisdom isn't so wise. In fact, it is a crock.
Short answer: to 'take numbers' is a major copout. Liability risk is
100x greater while you stand around, "losing control of the game." My
feeling is that doing anything less than taking every action possible to
prevent or shorten a fight is indefensible. Key, in my mind, is good
mechanics, nailing taunting/baiting the first time, not turning your
back, and not leaving opponents unsupervised during dead ball periods.
Football, any sport. If you let them fight, it's the eyes of those
present, it's your fault, 99% of the time."
__________________
Bob M.
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